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Multifunctional Platelet Composites for Tin Whisker Mitigation

Technology Summary

In order to comply with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, pure tin is replacing lead-tin alloys in commercial electronic devices. Unfortunately, tin can grow whiskers that can lead to electrical short circuits or metal vapor arcing, both of which threaten the long-term reliability of electronic systems for weapons, satellites, military, and automotive applications and cause critical systems to fail catastrophically. A current method of whisker mitigation utilizes coatings based on both glassy or rubbery unfilled polymers, but such coatings are not impenetrable to tin whiskers.

Description

Seeking a more reliable method of whisker mitigation, Sandia researchers developed a composite coating comprised of platelet-shaped particles such as Ni or MgF2 coated Ni/Al dispersed in silicone or epoxy. When the platelets are oriented with their directors normal to the tin-plated surface, they create a multilayer barrier resembling that found in nature (e.g., abalone shell). Platelet orientation is easily controlled using surface modification to prevent the polymer from wetting the platelet surface, extrusion, and applying magnetic or electrical fields. Platelet-filled composites vastly outperform conventional unfilled polymers. In tests conducted in a thermal cycling environment known to promote whisker growth, commercial capacitors coated with the Sandia composite exhibited no signs of whisker penetration, whereas those coated with conventional polymers showed whisker penetration.

Intellectual Property

Technology IDSD#13208Development StagePrototype - Sandia estimates this technology at a Technology Readiness Level of 4. Key elements of this technology have been demonstrated in laboratory environments.AvailabilityAvailablePublished01/12/2016Last Updated01/10/2019

Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA-0003525.